novelraw Chapter 386: Exceptionally Outstanding
Chapter 386: Exceptionally Outstanding
Friday, August 18, 2023. Cloudy to overcast, 27–31°C.
The gradually brightening morning light seeped through the curtains into the bedroom.
Liu Qingning slowly woke from her sleep, only to find that Tang Song was already gone.
She stared blankly for a moment as her thoughts cleared.
Picking up her phone, she checked the time.
[7:41]
Right after that, she noticed a WeChat message:
Tang Song: "You were sleeping so soundly this morning, so I didn’t wake you. I bought breakfast and left it in the fridge. Heat it up before eating. I have something to take care of."
Turning off the air conditioner, she pulled back the summer quilt and replied briefly before getting up.
Recalling last night’s events, her expression grew complicated.Tang Song’s sudden assertiveness, coupled with his bold move, had left her sleepless. She wasn’t even sure when she had eventually fallen asleep.
She had planned to rekindle their bond with a nostalgic approach and a touch of seduction, hoping to win him back—but ultimately, she had failed.
Deep down, her principles wouldn’t allow her to accept Tang Song’s unfaithfulness, nor could she tolerate sharing him with other women.
Yet, at the same time, she couldn’t bring herself to let go.
She didn’t know what had happened to Tang Song recently. In fact, even his experiences since college had become increasingly mysterious to her.
He was no longer the simple, goofy boy she remembered.
She realized she needed to get to know this childhood friend all over again.
Only after truly understanding him could she decide whether to try to win him back or let him go.
After freshening up and wiping her face, she stepped out of the bathroom—
Only to see Liu Shuang emerging from the bedroom.
"Ah? Qingning, why are you still here so late? It’s almost 8:30!"
Tangyi Precision had a flexible work schedule—typically starting at 10 AM and ending at 7 PM—so Liu Shuang always woke up late.
"I overslept today, but it’s fine. I’ve already handed over my work." Liu Qingning smiled and pointed to the breakfast on the table. "Here, Tang Song bought this. I just finished eating, and it’s still warm."
"Thanks, babe." Liu Shuang grinned as she sat down at the coffee table and took a bite of the shrimp dumpling, a satisfied look appearing on her face.
"Oh, right, Qingning! I don’t think you have a bag for formal dining events. Let me recommend a few styles for you. We can go shopping this afternoon!"
As she changed her clothes, Liu Qingning shook her head. "No need. Tang Song just gave me a handbag two days ago."
"Oh? Tang Song bought you a bag?" Liu Shuang immediately abandoned her breakfast, standing up with curiosity. "What brand? Where is it? Let me see!"
"Wait a second."
Liu Qingning pulled on her pants, opened the wardrobe, and stood on her tiptoes to retrieve an orange gift box from the top shelf.
She hadn’t used it yet—her mind had been too preoccupied with Tang Song these past few days.
Recognizing the familiar packaging, Liu Shuang was visibly shocked. "LV? Which model?"
"Capucines Mini."
"Wow! That’s from their classic handbag collection! Even the basic version costs 50 to 60 thousand yuan. Tang Song really went all out!"
As Liu Qingning opened the lid and lifted the bag, a bright smile spread across her face.
Tang Song had picked exactly what she wanted.
She had always loved the LV Capucines Mini and had been tempted to buy one before. But with work keeping her busy and her focus on saving money, she had suppressed that desire.
"Uh… wait a second…" Liu Shuang’s eyes widened. "Holy—this looks like the exotic crocodile leather edition that costs over 200,000! Are you serious?!"
Although exotic leather and regular leather had the same design, the craftsmanship, luxury, and price difference were worlds apart. To them, these were two entirely different leagues.
"Of course, it’s real." Liu Qingning pouted. "Tang Song wouldn’t lie to me."
On this, she had absolute confidence.
She had known him for years, and apart from his usual teasing and jokes, Tang Song had never lied to her.
Even when it came to his relationships, he had been honest.
She understood why he openly admitted his "player" behavior.
Their relationship was complicated—not just love, but also deep friendship.
If Tang Song had chosen to deceive her, then the moment she uncovered the truth, the consequences would have been devastating. The source of this content ɪs novelꜰire.net
Their long-standing friendship and bond would have suffered irreparable damage.
To preserve their connection, he had no choice but to be honest with her.
"Babe, this is my dream bag! Let me see it up close!" Liu Shuang excitedly leaned in.
She had just graduated with a master’s degree and had only been a full-time employee for two months. While her salary was 40,000 yuan per month, she had little savings and couldn’t afford luxury goods of this caliber.
Touching the diamond-encrusted LV clasp, Liu Shuang carefully lifted the flap—then exclaimed in surprise.
"Whoa, there’s something inside?"
"Huh?" Liu Qingning paused and peered inside the bag.
Apart from a shoulder strap, there were a few neatly placed items in the inner compartment.
She took them out—three things in total.
A sealed black-and-gold wristwatch, a bottle of perfume, and a folded piece of paper.
"This is… the Chanel Black & Gold Square Sugar Watch, and Hermès Un Jardin Sur Le Nil perfume!" Liu Shuang gasped. "Girl, with a rare crocodile Capucines Mini, a Chanel watch, and an Hermès fragrance, your entire presence just leveled up!"
Though they had high educational backgrounds, they came from ordinary families and hadn’t yet broken into high society.
Attending an event with elite socialites and celebrities was nerve-wracking—
But having these luxury accessories provided a sense of confidence, as well as some social capital.
Liu Qingning licked her lips, placed the watch and perfume on the bed, and picked up the folded paper.
Slowly, she opened it.
It was a pencil sketch of herself from high school.
She was wearing a school uniform, sitting by the window, with earphones in her ears and a playful smile on her face.
Below the drawing, a line of words was written in pencil:
"The world is filled with spring when you smile."
Liu Qingning’s eyes grew misty, her vision blurring.
This wasn’t from any photograph.
It was a memory from Tang Song’s mind—one that only existed in his recollection.
Liu Shuang’s expression turned complicated. "I have to admit… Tang Song really treats you well. This whole set easily costs 300,000 yuan. That’s not a small sum for him."
She used to believe Tang Song wasn’t good enough for Liu Qingning and had often encouraged her to choose someone more "successful" like Cheng Qingfeng or Xiang Kai.
But after seeing Tang Song today, her impression had drastically shifted.
This "ordinary childhood friend" of Liu Qingning’s…
Had qualities that made him worth fighting for.
If wealth wasn’t a factor, he wasn’t any less impressive than Xiang Kai.
As Liu Qingning looked at the sketch and the carefully chosen gifts, she took a deep breath—
A flood of emotions welling up inside her.
11:00 AM.
At Kexing Science Park, inside Century Zhixue.
The HR Director handed over her resignation certificate.
"It’s all done, President Liu. You can keep your access card and employee badge for now—
There might still be work-related issues requiring your assistance in the coming days."
"Mm, got it. Bye-bye."
Liu Qingning nodded and turned to leave the HR office.
As soon as she returned to her desk, Li Ziying walked over, patted her shoulder, and said softly,
"Qingning, about tonight’s networking dinner—Qingfeng won’t be attending. Something came up for him."
Liu Qingning paused for a moment before nodding thoughtfully. "Oh, okay."
"By the way, you're going shopping with Liu Shuang this afternoon, right?"
"Yeah, I’ll take a cab to meet her soon. We’ll have lunch together and then hit the stores."
"Okay, let’s go together then." Li Ziying pinched her cheek playfully and grinned. "After shopping, I’ll take you both to an amazing beauty salon. The makeup artists there are top-notch. I just got a VIP card."
"We can start with some skincare treatments to make our skin glow, then let the pros do a full makeup and styling session. Since we’re attending such a formal event, we should dress our best, right? With your looks, Qingning, a little effort, and you’ll be on par with the stars."
Hearing that, Liu Qingning’s eyes lit up. "That sounds amazing! Thanks, Ziying!"
As developers, none of them were particularly skilled at makeup, nor did they have much time to practice.
And let’s be real—what woman doesn’t love looking beautiful?
Especially someone like her, who had been stunning since childhood.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so self-conscious about a single pimple that she didn’t even want Tang Song to see her up close.
It had been way too long since she had properly pampered herself.
The thought of getting a full makeover, slipping into a gorgeous outfit, and showing up in front of Tang Song looking brand new made her clench her little fists in excitement.
A bright smile spread across her face.
Shenzhen Bay No.1, Tower T8 "Ding-dong—"
The doorbell rang.
Tang Song set down his laptop, got up, and walked to the entryway.
On the LED screen, a live feed displayed the visitor. After confirming it was a property service staff member, he unlocked the armored door.
"Mr. Tang, your suit has been pressed and is ready. Please check if everything is to your satisfaction."
Tang Song took the Kiton suit, gave it a quick once-over, and smiled. "It looks perfect. Thank you."
"We’re honored to serve you. Have a great day."
"Same to you."
After closing the armored door, Tang Song removed the garment bag and hung the suit in the master bedroom’s walk-in closet.
He had brought only one suit when he moved to Shenzhen, keeping it here at Shenzhen Bay No.1.
Since tonight was a formal dinner, he had to dress appropriately.
The freshly pressed suit had regained its crisp structure and sleek drape.
Tang Song changed out of his casual outfit, slipping into the ensemble piece by piece:
Navy blue suit jacket and trousersWhite dress shirtDark brown leather loafersIt struck a balance between comfort and business sophistication.
For the finishing touch, he strapped on his Vacheron Constantin Overseas watch.
Standing before the mirror, he took a moment to admire himself.
His tall, athletic build, well-defined features, and luxurious attire made for a striking image.
No doubt about it—he looked like a total heartthrob.
Tang Song smirked. At this rate, he might as well debut as a celebrity. He’d definitely have a market.
He admired himself in the mirror for a bit longer before finally grabbing his phone and dialing Liu Qingning.
"Hey, are you done shopping?"
"Yeah, Shuangshuang and I just got back to the apartment. We’re heading to a beauty salon now for hair and makeup. It’ll take a while. I’ll send you the location—just meet us there later so we can go to Raffles Hotel together."
"Alright, babe."
"Hey! What kind of tone is that?!" Liu Qingning’s voice carried a hint of shyness.
Tang Song chuckled and playfully kissed the phone’s speaker before murmuring, "Bye-bye. I’ll come pick you up tonight."
"...Bye-bye."
After hanging up, Tang Song stepped onto the balcony, gazing into the distance.
Unlike the historically rich Beijing or the inherently lavish Shanghai, Shenzhen was a young, thriving metropolis—
full of energy, brimming with ambition.
Here, you had Alibaba, Tencent, Huawei…
And also his companies—Smile Holdings, Tangyi Precision, and Qingning Tech.
White Moonlight had chosen to stay here, and honestly, that wasn’t a bad choice.
After a full facial treatment, hand care, and professional makeup session, it was nearly 6 PM.
Liu Qingning stood in front of the full-length mirror, admiring herself for a long moment.
A soft smile bloomed on her lips.
She wore a sky-blue tailored blazer dress, its cinched waist accentuating her curves, highlighting her hourglass figure.
On her wrist, the black-and-gold Chanel Square Sugar Watch added an elegant touch, elevating her overall look with a hint of modern fashion.
Her hair fell in gentle waves, her skin glowed from the treatments, and her 6 cm high heels further enhanced her aura.
She looked radiant, elegant, and drop-dead gorgeous.
Thinking about seeing Tang Song again, her eyes sparkled with excitement and a hint of smugness.
After all, she was once the acknowledged school beauty at Jing County No.1 High School.
She had just been too busy with work and had neglected her looks.
Now that she had fully refreshed herself, she was back to at least 80–90% of her peak charm.
Tonight, she was determined to blow that guy away.
"Qingning, you’re seriously stunning," Liu Shuang genuinely praised, then glanced at her own reflection—
She sighed.
Her own looks were cute and above average, and she was well-liked in her department.
But standing next to Liu Qingning, she completely faded into the background.
Comparisons were brutal.
Li Ziying laughed, nudging her playfully.
"Girl, with this outfit and your LV bag, you’re straight out of a romance novel—a pure-hearted leading lady."
Liu Qingning pursed her lips into a sweet smile, exchanging playful banter with them.
"Riiing—"
A sharp phone ringtone suddenly broke the moment.
Liu Shuang quickly answered, "Hello? Xiang Kai?"
"Oh, yeah, we just finished up. We’re heading to the hotel soon."
"...Huh? You’re here already?"
Liu Shuang glanced at Liu Qingning before hesitating, "Uh, okay. We’ll be right out."
After hanging up, Liu Qingning asked, "What’s up, Shuangshuang?"
Looking a little guilty, Liu Shuang admitted,
"I, uh… told Xiang Kai we were coming here for makeup and gave him a rough estimate of when we’d be done. Since he lives nearby, he drove over to pick us up so we could go to Raffles Hotel together."
She and Xiang Kai had been college classmates for four years and were naturally close.
Plus, he had even gotten her Bei Yuwei’s autographed photo, so she hadn’t thought much about sharing their plans.
She had also mentioned that Tang Song would be picking up Liu Qingning—but she hadn’t expected Xiang Kai to act this fast and show up in person.
Tang Song had been staying with them these past few days, and now that Liu Qingning had officially resigned,
Xiang Kai was starting to lose his patience.
Li Ziying grinned and said, "Perfect timing! We just wrapped up, too. Let’s go, go, go! I feel like I’m riding on your coattails today. With Xiang Kai leading the way as an insider, we’ll have a much easier time. Who knows? Maybe we’ll even get to make friends with some celebrities!"
Liu Qingning's brows furrowed slightly, but she didn’t say anything.
Leaving the VIP makeup room, the three walked down the marble staircase to the first floor.
And there, in the lounge area, sat Xiang Kai.
Dressed in a tailored high-end suit, sporting a luxury watch, and his hair slicked back in a perfect side part,
he exuded both the serious composure of a finance elite and the carefree charm of a wealthy heir.
He looked handsome, refined, and effortlessly charismatic.
As expected, many passing beauty salon staff couldn’t help but steal glances at him.
Seeing him like this, Liu Shuang couldn’t help but sigh, secretly envying her best friend’s good fortune.
Honestly, if she were the one making the choice—
She’d probably pick Xiang Kai too.
In terms of looks, he was an absolute heartthrob, not far behind Tang Song.
His father was a major entertainment company executive, his mother was a famous actress, and his family connections were unparalleled.
On top of that, he was a rising star in finance, with a limitless future.
To put it bluntly—
He and them weren’t even in the same league.
The money Liu Qingning had painstakingly saved over three years of entrepreneurship was barely enough to buy a modest apartment in Shenzhen.
Meanwhile, Xiang Kai’s family already owned two properties in the city.
At the sound of footsteps from the staircase, Xiang Kai lifted his gaze—
And the moment his eyes landed on Liu Qingning, a flicker of surprise and heat flashed through them.
That face—adorable and captivating.
That body—sexy and curvaceous.
Tonight, dressed to the nines, Liu Qingning embodied both innocence and maturity,
a striking contrast that made her even more visually stunning—
exactly his type.
Standing up, Xiang Kai smiled warmly and greeted them,
"Good evening, ladies."
"Good evening."
"Thanks for coming all the way here to pick us up."
"It’s no trouble. I live nearby."
Xiang Kai took a step closer, his gaze lingering on Liu Qingning.
"You look absolutely stunning tonight—I’m giving you a perfect 100! I told you before, you should really do these treatments more often."
Li Ziying teased, "Hey, what’s with the favoritism? Are Shuangshuang and I not beautiful?"
"Of course, you are," Xiang Kai shrugged, lips curving into a playful smirk. "But, to be honest, Qingning is just a little more dazzling."
Liu Qingning nodded with a straight face. "That’s just the truth."
Xiang Kai chuckled, then sniffed the air.
"Hermès Un Jardin Sur Le Nil?"
His eyes glimmered with amusement. "Well, well… it’s rare to see you wear perfume."
Liu Shuang covered her mouth, laughing. "Damn, your nose is sharp!"
Liu Qingning let out a soft chuckle, then casually added, "Tang Song gave it to me."
At that, Xiang Kai’s brows lifted slightly.
"Oh? Well, he’s got decent taste. This fragrance is unisex, blending fruity, floral, and woody notes—fresh, elegant, and naturally soothing.
It suits you."
Xiang Kai had excellent conversational skills—he was knowledgeable, articulate, and exuded effortless confidence.
Liu Shuang and Li Ziying were completely engrossed, eyes shining with admiration.
After discussing perfume, Xiang Kai suddenly adopted a mysterious tone.
"Oh, and I have some good news for you. Guess what? A very famous alumna from our university is also attending the banquet tonight."
Liu Shuang grabbed his arm excitedly. "Just spill it already! Our school has so many famous alumni—who knows who it could be?!"
"Yeah, Xiang Kai, don’t keep us in suspense! Who is it?"
With a mischievous smile, Xiang Kai shook his head and finally revealed the name—
"Qin Yingxue."
"What?! Qin Yingxue?!"
"Yingxue-senpai!"
The three of them gasped simultaneously, eyes filled with delight and excitement.
Qin Yingxue’s name wasn’t widely known to the general public.
But to certain students from Imperial Capital University—
especially those in the Computer Science department—
she was practically a legend.
She had once been an assistant to Jin Meixiao, had made huge waves in the investment world,
and now sat on the board of directors at Qingning Tech.
She often appeared in major financial news outlets.
Rumor had it that thanks to her, Qingning Tech had recruited a large number of Imperial Capital University alumni—
even fostering an exclusive mutual support network among them.
"The Most Outstanding"
Li Ziying chuckled. "Perfect timing—we just finished too. Gogogo! I'm definitely benefiting from you guys today. With Xiang Kai, an insider, leading the way, we’ll have a much smoother time. Who knows? We might even make some celebrity friends!"
Liu Qingning frowned slightly but didn’t say anything.
Leaving the VIP makeup room, they descended the marble staircase to the first floor.
And there, seated on the plush sofa in the lounge, was Xiang Kai.
Dressed in a tailored designer suit, a luxury watch gleaming on his wrist, and his hair styled in a sleek 3:7 side part, he exuded a mix of calm professionalism and effortless charm—the perfect blend of a financial elite and a carefree heir.
He looked handsome and refined, with an undeniable air of prestige.
As he sat there, several beauty salon staff passing by stole glances at him.
Seeing Xiang Kai in this moment, Liu Shuang couldn’t help but sigh in envy for her best friend’s good fortune.
If she were in Qingning’s shoes, she probably would have chosen Xiang Kai.
After all—
Looks? Top-tier. Just as attractive as Tang Song.Family background? His father was a senior executive at an entertainment company, and his mother was a well-known actress.Connections? Extensive.Career? A rising financial elite with unlimited potential.Simply put, he belonged to a different social class than them.
Even after three years of grueling entrepreneurship, Liu Qingning had only saved enough to barely afford an apartment in Shenzhen.
Meanwhile, Xiang Kai’s family already owned two properties here.
Hearing footsteps approaching from the staircase, Xiang Kai instinctively looked up.
When his gaze landed on Liu Qingning, a flicker of undeniable admiration and desire flashed in his eyes.
A delicate and charming face.
A voluptuous yet elegant figure.
Dressed in evening attire, Liu Qingning exuded both innocence and allure.
That contrast was visually stunning—and it just so happened to be his favorite type.
Standing up, Xiang Kai greeted them with a warm smile.
"Good evening, ladies."
"Good evening," they responded.
"Thanks for coming all the way here just to pick us up."
"It’s no trouble. I live nearby."
As Xiang Kai’s gaze fell on Liu Qingning, his eyes brightened.
"You look incredible tonight. I’ll give it a perfect score! I told you—you should really pamper yourself more often."
Li Ziying teased, "Hey! You’re only complimenting one of us? What about Shuangshuang and me?"
"Of course, you both look beautiful too." Xiang Kai shrugged with a smirk. "But if I’m being honest—Qingning is still the most stunning."
Liu Qingning nodded seriously. "That’s the truth."
"Hermès Un Jardin Sur Le Nil?"
Xiang Kai sniffed the air slightly, raising a brow in surprise. "Didn’t expect this from you, Qingning. Wearing perfume, huh?"
Liu Shuang covered her mouth and giggled. "Wow, what a sharp nose!"
Liu Qingning let out a soft chuckle and casually explained, "The perfume was a gift from Tang Song."
The moment she said that, Xiang Kai’s brow twitched slightly.
"Oh?"
After a brief pause, he regained his composure and smiled. "Well, he has good taste. This is a unisex fragrance, blending fruit, floral, and woody notes—fresh yet refined. It suits you perfectly."
Xiang Kai was a smooth talker. Confident, eloquent, and knowledgeable, he had an undeniable charm when he spoke.
Both Liu Shuang and Li Ziying listened to him, eyes shining with admiration.
After the perfume discussion, Xiang Kai suddenly grinned.
"I’ve got great news for you all. A very famous alumna will be attending tonight’s event. Any guesses?"
Liu Shuang excitedly grabbed his arm. "Just tell us already! We have too many famous alumni—how are we supposed to guess?"
"Yeah, Xiang Kai, spill it!"
Xiang Kai laughed lightly. "It’s Qin Yingxue."
"WHAT?!"
"Yingxue-senpai?!"
The three women gasped in unison, their faces lighting up with excitement.
Qin Yingxue wasn’t exactly a household name, but among students from Imperial Capital University, especially those from the Computer Science Department, she was legendary.
Former assistant to Jin Meixiao.A rising star in investment and venture capital.A board member of Qingning Tech.Regularly featured in business news articles.Rumor had it that because of her influence, Qingning Tech had recruited numerous alumni from Imperial Capital University, forming a tight-knit, mutually supportive circle.
Li Ziying took a deep breath, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Xiang Kai, Deju Renhe's headhunter has been reaching out to me for an interview with Qingning Tech. Do you think there’s a chance we could toast to Qin Yingxue and chat with her?"
She was an AI specialist, an Imperial Capital University master’s graduate, and had entrepreneurial experience.
With some hard work, she had a high probability of joining Qingning Tech.
Of course, entering through normal channels would only make her an ordinary employee.
But if she could get on Qin Yingxue’s radar—the possibilities were endless.
Xiang Kai smiled.
"She made a last-minute decision to attend. I’m not sure when she’ll arrive or how long she’ll stay. But if she’s still around during the cocktail hour, we’ll go over and say hi."
"Deal!" Li Ziying immediately agreed.
Liu Qingning and Liu Shuang nodded along, excitement clear on their faces.
Meeting Pei Yanke or Bei Yuwei would just be for fun—a chance to rub shoulders with celebrities.
But Qin Yingxue?
She was the real deal—the kind of powerful woman they actually admired.
Xiang Kai glanced at his watch.
"It’s already 6 PM. Shuangshuang said Tang Song would be coming. Where is he?"
"He should be here soon. I’ll call him."
Liu Qingning pulled out her phone and dialed.
"Hello, Tang Song?"
"Yeah, we just came out. We’re in the first-floor lounge."
"Wait—you’re already here?"
Liu Qingning immediately looked up, her gaze shifting to the salon entrance.
Xiang Kai and the others followed suit.
At the door, the doorman bowed slightly.
Then—
"Tap, tap."
Steady footsteps echoed through the luxurious beauty salon.
A tall silhouette appeared in the grand, illuminated hall.
A perfectly tailored navy-blue suit, its fine fabric catching the light, accentuating his athletic build.
Fitted trousers, draping smoothly with every unhurried, confident step.
A crisp white dress shirt, the collar slightly open, revealing a hint of toned muscles.
On his fair wrist, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas gleamed under the dazzling lights.
Dressed in a sleek, dark suit, contrasted with a white shirt, his look was clean-cut, poised, and undeniably elegant.
The moment he entered—he became the focal point of the entire room.
After a quick scan of his surroundings, his gaze landed on Liu Qingning.
His lips curved into a subtle, charming smile—
Graceful. Noble. Enchanting.
His presence was striking—utterly outstanding.